La Jolla Shores

"In there you have to be fighting for the waves," Michelle says, pointing to the crowded surf at La Jolla Shores. A study of sports participation by American Sports Data claims that between 1987 and 2000 the number of surfers increased by almost 50 percent to 2.2 million. "I was hit once," Michelle says. "He hit me here," she says, pointing to her chin and then her shoulder. "And my arm was sore for about a week." For the year 2003, the Consumer Product Safety Commission counted 306 surfing injuries from 100 hospitals around the United States.

"You have to watch out for new people. You have to see how people are surfing and how they are; how they balance and ride the wave. They usually have trouble standing up or they don't know where they're going."

Michelle learned to surf in La Jolla, but visits Baja to surf.

"I surf around Ensenada, and there aren't a lot of people. You can get to know people better there. Here, there are so many people. You don't really get to know anybody."

She says that she enjoys San Diego beaches for the terrain.

"Here it's sand; down in Baja it's rocks. I cut my foot once on the rocks down there, but it wasn't too bad."